Netflix is doing all it can to stay ahead of the competition. Slowly it has been upgrading from mailing rental DVDs and a library of TV reruns into one of the largest producers of entertainment that now includes big budget Hollywood films. Their first attempt at this will be with the soon-to-be-released $90 million film called Bright, directed by Suicide Squad‘s David Ayer and starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton.

Just like any other blockbuster ready to hit theaters, Bright has had all the same promotional features like a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, an LA premiere, as well as television promo ads. The big difference, of course, is that when this film is released on December 22, all audiences are going to have to do to see it will be to open their Netflix app.

To reassure everyone about it’s commitment to these types of films, BloombergPursuits reports that Netflix has already committed to a sequel to Bright with Will Smith signed on. Producer of the film Bryan Unkeless says that, “It is exciting to be on the front lines with a place that feels like the future.” Netflix is expected to spend as much as $8 billion dollars in 2018 with a quarter of that going to original scripted series, stand-up specials, anime projects and feature films.

How is Netflix doing this? By hiring Hollywood producers like Scott Stuber who worked on Ted and Central Intelligence and has a lot of relationships with people in the film industry. In 2018 they are expected to release more than 80 films an upgrade from the 50 in 2017. The majority are inexpensive to make, but a few like Bright reach major studio type budgets.

Netflix is also testing various cameras and sound systems to complement these big budget films. They are releasing the majority of their most expensive series and movies in HDR which is included in a lot of newer television’s technology. Senior technology specialist Richar Smith says that, “What you can do in your living room is as good as what you get in a theater or any viewing experience.”

On Friday we will see if all this spending pays off when Bright comes out. It will be interesting to see going forward what other big budget films Netflix attempts and what actors and actresses it attracts. What do you think of this move by Netflix? Are you looking forward to Bright? Let us know below!

Netflix’s Bright will be released December 22 on their streaming service.

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Source: BloombergPursuits